Piston Soak time for the SL2

[MolaKule]

HPL Engine Cleaner??

That's what I would have used-at 4 ounces (120 mL) per cylinder.

 

[MrQuackers]

Well, I extended this procedure a little

I got out the last stubborn bit with folded/twisted up paper towels

Put in new copper NGK V-Power spark plugs, drained the oil, replaced the filter with a Supertech MP3614 and put in a couple quarts of Mobil Super 5000, some Quaker State Higher Mileage Engine (w/SLICK50) and some MMO.

Held my breath and started the engine. It was a no go for a couple minutes. I was becoming a wee bit concerned, but eventually it fired up and I kept the idle around 2k for about 10 minutes entertaining the neighborhood

Bit of a smoke show.

I let it idle for a full 20 minutes

Then I replaced the Supertech filter

again. Yes, you will see a filter's innards with zero miles + a 20 minute idle after a piston soak, using fresh oil.

I used a gallon of Delvac 1300 after the idle flush.

Put a bottle of Gumout Expert Series Regane Complete Fuel System Cleaner in the gas tank.

 

[Gus_Mahn]

HPL Engine Cleaner??

That's what I would have used-at 4 ounces (120 mL) per cylinder.

Is that a motor oil? Wouldn’t the viscosity be kinda high to make it past the rings and slow cleaning? If I ever do another flush, I’ll use some premix as a last step.

 

[MolaKule]

Is that a motor oil? Wouldn’t the viscosity be kinda high to make it past the rings and slow cleaning? If I ever do another flush, I’ll use some premix as a last step.

No, HPL EC is not a motor oil but an engine cleaning fluid of about 20-30 grade.

 

[MrQuackers]

I made a rookie mistake and took a drive on residential (25-30 mph) roads

After several miles the car ran real rough at idle, I had to hit neutral and do some feathering to keep it running.

I got it on the interstate for a good long while including a 10 mile stretch with OD lockout to blow all the carbon out. Lesson learned. All good now.

 

[MrQuackers]

Here is the Super Tech filter used solely for the idle flush. It had a small dent on the dome when installed
Now it looks good as new.

I will have the media under paper towel wraps for a couple days before the slice and dice.

 

[tank]

I was a factory trained Saturn/EV-1 technician back in the day. We used GM top engine cleaner as the first step in remedying oil consumption.

 

[MrQuackers]

I was a factory trained Saturn/EV-1 technician back in the day. We used GM top engine cleaner as the first step in remedying oil consumption.

 

[53' Stude]

Here is the Super Tech filter used solely for the idle flush. It had a small dent on the dome when installed
Now it looks good as new.

I will have the media under paper towel wraps for a couple days before the slice and dice.View attachment 223478

Nice to hear. Can’t wait to see media layed out

 

[spasm3]

I see no issue with trying a piston soak. But having torn down and rebuilt a Saturn s engine, and owning several, I don't see it working.

I've tried it.
With the rebuilds I did, I found the low tension rings oil rings really lost tension. The first and second rings were good , so it had good compression, yet burned a lot of oil cleanly.

Those Saturns were some of the only cars that got the mpg that was on the sticker.

My son's sc1 manual would get 39-40 hwy with the A/C off.

 

[GSCJR]

Thank you for the memories @MrQuackers , I miss my 1992 SL2, I got it new and kept it for over 20 years. It was indestructible, until it was time to say goodbye. It really was an awesome car in terms of quality and reliability.

Good luck on keeping yours alive!

 

[MrQuackers]

I see no issue with trying a piston soak. But having torn down and rebuilt a Saturn s engine, and owning several, I don't see it working.

I've tried it.
With the rebuilds I did, I found the low tension rings oil rings really lost tension. The first and second rings were good , so it had good compression, yet burned a lot of oil cleanly.

Those Saturns were some of the only cars that got the mpg that was on the sticker.

My son's sc1 manual would get 39-40 hwy with the A/C off.

I have had several 40 mpg tanks on highway trips on both my '99 and my old '93 SL2 automagic S-Series

 

[MrQuackers]

Not much to see in the pleats but very fine carbon more easily seen in person vs these pictures

 

[MrQuackers]

Additional

 

[MrQuackers]

Here is the Fram filter that was in service for one year and 5,096 miles. It will be posted in the oil filter forum in a couple days

 

[53' Stude]

Here is the Fram filter that was in service for one year and 5,096 miles. It will be posted in the oil filter forum in a couple days

View attachment 224198

View attachment 224199

View attachment 224200

Very nice, I see some fine pieces. Looking forward to Fram CORE cut and post also

 

[99Saturn]

Thanks for posting. I miss our two SL2s. I occasionally think about searching for another.

Also didn’t realize saturnfans was gone

 

[meep]

Has anyone figured out a way to not destroy the neighborhood with smoke on restart?

I did this a few years back with a Jeep 4.0 with 240k on it. The smoke screen was a disaster. And it kept coming. It was so bad I drove out of the neighborhood. But that was even worse… there was no wind - it was a dead still Saturday morning, and I filled the street, including a 4 way intersection, with a complete smoke screen - you couldn’t see ANYTHING for 5 minutes. I was so scared there might be a wreck, but thankfully it was early enough that by grace nobody happened to drive through there.

If I were to do this again, I’ve wondered if there’s a safer way? Send the exhaust through a hose to a bucket of water? Like how boat exhaust goes through the prop? Something? It was BAD. ideas?

 

[eljefino]

I would not throw new plugs in immediately after a piston soak. You're going to foul them right off the bat. Use the old ones until the smoke clears then switch for new.

 

[anderson]

Has anyone figured out a way to not destroy the neighborhood with smoke on restart?

I did this a few years back with a Jeep 4.0 with 240k on it. The smoke screen was a disaster. And it kept coming. It was so bad I drove out of the neighborhood. But that was even worse… there was no wind - it was a dead still Saturday morning, and I filled the street, including a 4 way intersection, with a complete smoke screen - you couldn’t see ANYTHING for 5 minutes. I was so scared there might be a wreck, but thankfully it was early enough that by grace nobody happened to drive through there.

If I were to do this again, I’ve wondered if there’s a safer way? Send the exhaust through a hose to a bucket of water? Like how boat exhaust goes through the prop? Something? It was BAD. ideas?

just send it imo.
if ya cant take the smoke get off the road

you ought to see the smoke screen when i start my 8v92 detroit on a winter morning. neighbors of the warehouse have called the fire dept. on 3 occasions.